The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1887-07-16

society, and who passed the bet
ter part of his time grinding away at the
dullest of all the dull law books that
his library contained. Something of a
cynic, he held great many dOgmatic
views, and these he did not scruple to
infuse into the really creditable articles
which, from time to time, appeared in
the leading journals over his signature.
This arbitrary and self-opinionated dis
position, while it won for him high
place at the bar, failed to endear him
to his associates or friends. Those
who once felt the sting of his satire
were wont TO hold aloof afterward, and
it thus happened that, though rich,
brilliant and successful, he was not a
general favorite. Don't let it be sup
posed that the knowledge of this Ostra-
cism disturbed his equanimity, or in
any way caused him discontinue; it
didn't. He was quite sufficient unto
himself, and derived neither any great
degree of satisfaction nor enjoyment
from an intimate association with his
fellow-beings.
For all his austerity and yirulence.
Mr.. Brand was, nevertheless, the pos
SCISSOR of very good heart; but he had
an original way of showing it. For
instance, | once saw him throw gold
piece to a whining beggar, with the
pious ejaculation: Take it and drink
yourself to death, and if it isn't enough,
come back and I'll give you more"
Mr.. Brand was a bachelor, but he
was notone from choice. 1t may seem
peculiar, taken with his other charac-
teristics that he should have favored
matrimony, but he did, with certain
amendments, however.
The marriage state as it existed was,
according to his philosophy, defective
concern; altogether too inadequate and
imperfect. 1t was continually being
weighed in the balance and found
wanting.
l asked him what was to be done
about it,
at should be rectifed, my dear mad
anne; as clause, word or paragraph
may be added to a bill before n legis-
lature."
l did wish he would cease calling me
madame. / considered it an insult to
my spinsterhood; and l could hardly
refrain from telling him that knew no
more about bills of legislation than the
rest of my sex. But he turned my
thoughts into the original channel by
saying.
1.-The marriage state reorganized,
put in order as it were, would be moth
ing less than godly institution"
His earnestness convinced me that,
for purely philanthropic motives, he
had in a measure effected its repair, so
| asked quite innocently: "What is
your system, Mr.. Brandt"
my dear madame" he remonstrat-
ed, 81 was not aware that l had laid
claim to having propounded one"
"But you have" / maintained, 81
am sure of it.
"Wcll, | will admit the charge, since
your perspicuity divines it," he ans
wered reluctantly.
MAY | be permitted to inquire where
in it differs from the regular oneP"
81 should be happy to afford you all
the information you require upon the
subject, but, J." and here he hesitated,
"The truth is, don't consider my sys-
tenn by any means perfect, from the
fact that up to the present time it has
remained wholly theoretical. "
"For the lack of the proper person to
demonstrate itP" | hazarded.
Exactly"
And then, having somehow or other
conceived an idea of the loftiness of
my comprehensive faculties, Mr.. Brand
did me the honor to make me acquaint-
ed with his pet theory, The difficulty
lay in nutshell. No woman ever
loved who possessed the combined at
tributes of the idealistic one that he
had conjured up out of the chaotic
debris of his rejuvenated plan. For ex-
ample, she must be physically and
mentally adapted to him; she must
have beauty, but no vanity; charm but
no coquetry, and talent without osten-
tation She must be Il savant in learn
ing and a butterfly in temperament.
Her method of household government
must have absolutely no parallel in
systematic regulation and order. And
upon this last point he laid great
stress, for love of neatness was as in
nate with him as love of opinion. AS
he didn't believe that flivolity could
bring contentment, his creed prohib-
tied youth.
listened with becoming gravity,
and marveled at his sophistry. How
any sane man could be so illogical
staggered me. And yet this one was
copnt Ar least he wasn't insano which